The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a firm directive to all Capital Market Operators, requiring them to declare their compliance status and ensure that every tradable instrument under their management is fully registered by January 2026. The order aligns with the newly enacted Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025, which introduces updated regulatory standards for Nigeria’s fast-evolving financial markets.
Speaking at the SEC Journalists’ Academy 2025 in Lagos, the Commission’s Director-General, Emomotimi Agama — represented by the Commissioner of Operations, Bola Ajomale — emphasized that the new Act strengthens the regulatory backbone of the Nigerian capital market. He explained that operators now have clearer responsibilities and must meet the registration requirements promptly to ensure transparency and investor confidence.
Agama stressed that no individual or institution should offer any tradable instrument without completing the SEC registration process within the stipulated period. He described ISA 2025 as more than just a replacement for the 2007 Act, calling it a forward-looking framework designed to make Nigeria’s capital market deeper, more efficient and globally competitive. According to him, the Act enhances investor protection, empowers operators and provides the Commission with improved tools to enforce fair market practices.
He also highlighted how the reforms are driven by the rapid rise of digital trading, fintech platforms and virtual assets. The Act modernizes regulatory oversight by giving the SEC clearer objectives, expanded investigative powers and the ability to intervene not only with regulated entities but also with third parties involved in suspected market abuse. This closes longstanding loopholes that previously made enforcement difficult, particularly in complex financial schemes and Ponzi-style operations.
Agama noted that ISA 2025 reflects a collective resolve to strengthen Nigeria’s financial ecosystem. By aligning with global IOSCO standards, addressing systemic risks, clarifying the SEC’s mandate and supporting capital formation, the Act positions the capital market as a stronger tool for national development. He urged market operators to embrace the reforms, comply early and contribute to building a transparent, innovative and future-ready market.
source: punch